10 FOREST CONDITIONS IN LOUISIANA. 



culled. In some of the more isolated localities, however, excellent 

 oak, hickory, ash. and red gum timber may still be found. Tupelo 

 and cypress of pole size are plentiful in the swamps. Along the 

 Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific Railroad, one of the oldest lines in 

 the State, lumbering has been carried on extensively for years. 

 Many small operators are now cutting second growth, since much of 

 the original pine has been sent into Arkansas for manufacture. The 

 large sawmill companies of the region are cutting from the longleaf 

 pine farther south. Even the largest timber tracts, containing from 

 8,000 to 16,000 acres, have been culled for the best timber. vVhere 

 first quality shortleaf pine remains the stumpage value is $5 per 

 thousand, contrasted with $1 or less for longleaf pine farther south. 

 The sale value of large tracts culled of their best timber is about 

 $6.25 per acre. Ash stumpage usually sells in small quantities for 

 from $9 to $12 per thousand board feet, and oak at from $6 to $8. 

 Small cypress should soon command a good price as telephone and 

 telegraph poles. 



"White and post oak, gum, and cypress have been extensively cut 

 for ties. Pine and red gum ties, which are not in demand by rail- 

 roads in the State, are often shipped to the arid regions of the TTest, 

 where decay is less rapid. 



The grazing of hogs is carried on extensively and sheep are also 

 run to some extent. In Webster Parish, which is fairly representa- 

 tive of the region, there are more than 7,500 hogs and about 800 sheep. 

 Stock is unconfined, except within incorporated towns and cities. 



Fires are prevalent throughout the region. These are set in most 

 cases by boys and irresponsible hunters, rather than by the farmers. 

 Xo other part of the State needs fire protection more than the short- 

 leaf -pine uplands, and nowhere would the results of reproduction 

 be more quickly apparent. Where fire is kept out, reproduction of 

 both pine and hardwoods is rapid. The value of second-growth pine 

 is increasing every year, and the number of small farms in the 

 region and the consequent need of timber for fences, barns, and 

 houses, and for fuel make the protection of second-growth stands 

 exceedingly important. Moreover, the forest cover on the water- 

 sheds of local streams would have much to do with regulating the 

 flow of the streams farther south. Many farms in the longleaf hills 

 immediatelv south of the region have been abandoned during the last 

 few years, because of the destruction of crops during high water.' 

 In situations where the ground is badly eroded, the planting of 

 rapid-growing trees, such as locust and catalpa, for posts would be 

 profitable not only for the material grown, but also in checking 

 erosion. 



